…Gordon University “I never managed to achieve the grades I needed when I left school to go to university, so when the opportunity arose to study again, after working for nearly ten-years in the oil and gas industry, it was a fantastic opportunity for me not to miss. The Graduate Apprenticeship degree allowed me to continue working full-time, whilst still being able to study, applying the theoretical learnings to my role at Sparrows. This degree a…
…would have done in a full-time scenario.”…
…ip funding cannot meet demand. Increasing maintenance support for students commands popular support. UA recommendations University Alliance’s recommendations on student maintenance are to: In the short-term, uprate student loans to keep pace with the increased cost of living. Any uprating should be linked to the minimum wage, as proposed in the Augar Review In the medium-term reinstate means-tested maintenance grants for the students who are most…
…esents a gap in opportunity based on region. This should not be the case in 2023. Higher education is one of the biggest drivers of social mobility in the country and graduates earn an average of £100k more over their lifetimes compared with those who did not attend university. Regional inequalities will persist for as long as the disparity in higher education entry rates do. Government must now take a long-term, strategic approach to growing oppo…
…he most impactful and cost-free actions the government could take to support the financial sustainability of UK universities.” The letter follows on from a number of short-term and long-term policy recommendations University Alliance made in their recently published policy briefing, ‘Let’s Get Technical’ to harness technical education in the UK. Read the full letter here….
…es University are empowering nurses and midwives to become researchers. “In 2021, The Chief Nursing Officer for England, Ruth May, published the Strategic Plan for Research which outlines the intention to ‘create a research environment that empowers nurses to lead, participate in and deliver research, where research is fully embedded in practice and professional decision-making, for public benefit’. Four years previously, and almost as if in antic…
…s some of the big challenges facing the higher education sector. In the briefing, University Alliance calls on the next government to: Develop a long-term post-18 education and skills strategy Support innovative regions and SMEs across the UK Embed universities in NHS and social care workforce planning Reform the funding and regulation of degree apprenticeships Address financial shortfalls for students and universities Vanessa Wilson, CEO of Unive…
…ities, University Alliance founded the Awards to celebrate the innovation, commitment and excellence that exists across their membership. Individuals and teams from Alliance universities won awards in categories that align with University Alliance’s core values: integrity, professionalism, innovation, collaboration and fun. The awards also recognise an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their institution and to the higher educa…
Vanessa Wilson CEO of University Alliance comments in response to a new report by UCAS and the Sutton Trust called ‘Where Next? What Influences the choices of would-be apprentices?’ “We know apprenticeships are popular. They are a great option for students who want to work whilst they study and a great option for employers who want to play an active role in training future workers. The figures released today show what those of us involved in deli…
…se to the Future Research Assessment Programme, we outlined concerns that REF would become a more frequent exercise. We are therefore delighted that REF will next be conducted in 2028. This brings a degree of stability to our research community and allows them to concentrate on what they do best: delivering high-quality, impactful research in partnership with industry. We are also pleased to see that the definition of research excellence has been…
